State labelling Wannier-Stark atomic interferometers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the creation of atomic interferometers using cold rubidium atoms in an optical lattice, exploring their sensitivity to forces and frequency, and applying them to measure the Bloch frequency and develop a compact gravimeter.

Contribution

It introduces two novel Wannier-Stark atomic interferometer schemes and evaluates their sensitivity, accuracy, and potential as force sensors.

Findings

Successfully realized Ramsey-type and accordion-type interferometers.

Measured Bloch frequency with high precision.

Demonstrated a compact atomic gravimeter.

Abstract

Using cold 87Rb atoms trapped in a 1D-optical lattice, atomic interferometers involving coherent superpositions between different Wannier-Stark atomic states are realized. Two di fferent kinds of trapped interferometer schemes are presented: a Ramsey-type interferometer sensitive both to clock frequency and external forces, and a symmetric accordion-type interferometer, sensitive to external forces only. We evaluate the limits in terms of sensitivity and accuracy of those schemes and discuss their application as force sensors. As a first step, we apply these interferometers to the measurement of the Bloch frequency and the demonstration of a compact gravimeter.